YORK - Town and school officials hope this will be the year that the lack of music instructional space at York High School is addressed.
Warrant Article 62 on the May Budget Referendum asks the voters to approve $2.3 million in spending, of which $1.54 million will be funded through bond issue and $800,000 paid through school fund balance. Approval of the project will allow the York School Department to construct classrooms and practice space for the ever-growing York High School Music Department.
The impact of the project is estimated at $13 per year for the average York property.
"Even with an overall decline in student enrollment, our music programs continue to grow each year, with about 300 students taking music-related courses this year alone," wrote School Committee Chairwoman Marilyn Zotos in support of the project.
The plan has the unanimous support of both the Board of Selectmen and School Committee, with strong majority support of the Budget Committee, with five members in favor of the plan, one opposed and one abstaining from the preference vote on the request.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Henry Scipione noted that the request, if approved, will "provide an adequate learning environment for York High School students involved in the choral and band programs."
Students of all ages have spoken out in support of the plan, describing the educational value of participation in band, chorus, the study of music and the performing arts.
The proposed project includes two large instructional spaces, one each for band and chorus, as well as three smaller practice areas and two offices for teachers.
Unlike a prior budget request that was defeated two years ago by a close margin, the proposal does not include an auditorium. Although the auditorium's inadequacy as a performance and rehearsal space has been documented - York High School Music Director Rob Westerberg's choral concerts must be located off campus and sometimes out of town, for example, because the stage cannot fit the entire ensemble - officials agreed to move forward solely with the instruction space project at this time in an effort to address cost concerns while meeting the most pressing academic need.
The auditorium replacement remains part of the town's long-range capital plan and, if approved, the instructional space addition will be constructed to allow for the auditorium expansion should the voters approve such a move in the future.
As Zotos put it, "Passage of the music instructional space will provide basic classroom and practice room space for our students."
